Maryland: A Virtual Hike of the ADT
Our ADT terrain in Maryland follows rural routes past small farm towns and villages along the Chesapeake Bay. The trail goes across the top of our nations capital, Washington D.C. and then picks up the C&O Canal. The ADT has over 272 miles of terrain in Maryland. Our "discoveries" were full of nature, history and geology. Enjoy the links throughout this article to "discover" for yourself the many wonderful places the ADT can take you in Maryland.
MARYLAND We really enjoyed the ADT terrain in Maryland. The Eastern Shore of Maryland was mostly rural road walks that led us through small farming towns and coastal villages along the inland waters of the Chesapeake Bay. We love the Bay, we both grew up swimming, waterskiing and fishing the waters of the Bay. The trail goes across the top of our nations capital, Washington D.C. We loved the diversity that the trail exposed us to. After our hike through the capital we picked up the C&O Canal. Our hike through the National Historic Park was a treat. The wildlife in the Floodplain Forest allowed for excellent sightings everyday. Following the Potomac River to the west past old canal towns made for some great historical "discoveries". The western Maryland terrain put us back in the mountains, and we do love the mountains! The geology dramatically changed and we were able to "discover" the history that goes back millions of years, the history responsible for the development of the oldest mountain range in the world! We hope you will check out the links throughout this article and "discover" some of the Maryland ADT experience. Enjoy your "Virtual Hike of Maryland". Start your hike by checking out the Geography of Maryland: http://www.netstate.com/states/geography/md_geography.htm We enter Maryland around the Ringgold's Green area and passed by Hobbs before entering Denton in Caroline County: http://www.dentonmaryland.com/history.php On the Eastern Shore of Maryland you can experience Martinak State Park: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/eastern/martinak.html If you want to stay a night or two try Camp Mardela: http://www.campmardela.org/ The old homes and interesting people make up the small town of "beautiful" Ridgely: http://www.ridgelymd.org/ We enjoyed our first ADT shelter, a nice lean-to in Tuckahoe State Park: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/eastern/tuckahoe.html One of our favorite small towns in Maryland was Queenstown: http://www.city-data.com/city/Queenstown-Maryland.html You can tell the Bay is getting closer from the sites, smells and sounds in Graysonville: http://www.city-data.com/city/Grasonville-Maryland.html For another look at the towns along the inland waters of the Bay have a look at Stevensville: http://www.city-data.com/city/Stevensville-Maryland.html The largest waterway we've seen since the Atlantic was the Chesapeake Bay: http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/mdmanual/01glance/html/ches.html Unfortunately they wouldn't let us walk across, but the bridge is still impressive. Check out the Chesapeake Bay Bridge: http://www.mdkidspage.org/BayBridge.htm You won't be able to camp here, but the park is beautiful. If you want to relax by the Bay try a trip to Sandy Point State Park: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/southern/sandypoint.html We could definitely see why the Navy picked Annapolis: http://www.ci.annapolis.md.us/ The Naval Academy found a great home at the mouth of the Severn River: http://www.aacounty.org/SevernRiver/using.cfm If you want to see an Impressive Institution then you must check out the U.S. Naval Academy: http://www.usna.edu///homepage.php To see Maryland in Minature try a visit to the Rowe Natural Resource Building and the Tawes Garden: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/tawesgarden.html We truely walked through the Police Station parking lot in Parole: http://www.city-data.com/city/Parole-Maryland.html The walking was easy on the WB&A Rail-Trail (South Shore Trail): http://bikewashington.org/trails/wba/wba.htm Great trail angels like the Parsons call this nice town home, check out Bowie: http://www.cityofbowie.org/ Some of Bowie'shistory can be found at The Belair Mansion and the Woodward Stables: http://www.dailypress.com/travel/dp-trav_bowiejun06,0,5402711.story?coll=dp-travel-utility The great farmland in Maryland tells it's story at the Beltsville Agricultural Center: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HAC/PHA/beltsville/bel_p1.html#backa For more land use information be sure to see the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Visitor Center: http://www.barc.usda.gov/ The animals tell their story at the U.S. Department of Interior National Wildlife Visitor Center: http://www.fws.gov/northeast/patuxent/vcdefault.html Keep you're eyes to the sky near the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/home/index.html The ADT twists and turns through many parks in Greenbelt: http://www.greenbeltmd.gov/ http://www.otal.umd.edu/~vg/ Enjoy the nice off road hiking on the perimeter trail Greenbelt Park: http://www.nps.gov/gree/ Spend the day following the water in the Anacostia stream valley: http://www.pgparks.com/places/parks/anacostia.html http://www.dnr.state.md.us/greenways/intro.html To learn some of the history of flight check out the College Park Airport (Oldest Continuously Operated Airport): http://www.pgparks.com/places/historic/cpam/ Make your way to Washington D.C. on the Northwest Branch Trail: http://www.mc-mncppc.org/trails/trails_MAPS/NorthwestBranch.shtm http://www.marylandrunning.com/runs/NorthwestBranchTrail/ Our nations capital offers multiple days worth of "discoveries" Washington D.C.: http://www.washington.org/ Mall Area: http://www.nps.gov/nacc/ Capital: http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/wash/dc76.htm http://www.earthcam.com/usa/dc/metrosquare/ White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov/ Washington Monument: http://www.nps.gov/wamo/home.htm Smithsonian Institute: http://www.si.edu/ Hike along the protected borders of D.C. on the Fort Circle Trail: http://www.americantrails.org/nationalrecreationtrails/trailNRT/FortCircle-DC.html See how our capital stayed protected at Fort Stevens: http://americancivilwar.com/statepic/dc/dc001.html See where one of our Presidents took on enemy fire at Fort Slocum: http://www.nps.gov/cwdw/slocum.htm The beautiful waterway will lead you to Georgetown in Rock Creek Park: http://www.nps.gov/rocr/ For a great hike through a National Historic Park try the C&O Canal: http://www.nps.gov/choh/ http://mcmullans.org/canal/ http://www.candocanal.org/ The towpath makes for great hiking check out the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail: http://www.americanhiking.org/potomactrailguide/washington.html For a visit to a happening place be sure to visit Georgetown: http://www.georgetowndc.com/ For a hike along calming waters check out the grand Potomac River: http://www.potomacriver.org/about_potomac/about_the_potomac.htm For an alternate D.C. route try the Capital Crescent Trail: http://www.cctrail.org/ The water is moving fast at the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center: http://www.nps.gov/choh/Visitor/Centers/GreatFalls.html The birds are everywhere near the McKee Beshers Wildlife Management Area: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/central/mb.html Need a ride across the Potomac, take the White's Ferry: http://www.mcmullans.org/canal/whites_ferry.htm For a historical dig check out the Point Rocks Marble Quarry: http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/stones/stones4.html If you want to head west out of D.C. on the metro, you can get as far west as Berlin, no it's called Barry, no now it's called Brunswick: http://www.brunswickmd.gov/ Spend a few miles on our old friend the Appalachian Trail: http://www.nps.gov/appa/ http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site/c.jkLXJ8MQKtH/b.694599/k.CCB5/Home.htm If you are looking for a great trail town, you can't beat Harpers Ferry, WV(Across River): http://www.nps.gov/hafe/home.htm See where the Potomac meets the Shenandoah River: http://www.wm.edu/geology/virginia/rivers/potomac-shenandoah.html Some of this countries early history can be "discovered" at Antietam National Battlefield: http://www.nps.gov/anti/home.htm For the Aura of an old canal town be sure to see Williamsport: http://www.williamsportmaryland.com/ http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=2838 With restaurants within sight of the trail we couldn't pass on Hancock: http://www.hancockmd.com/ The "cool" 3,118 foot tunnel through the mountain is the Paw Paw Tunnel: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/wonder/structure/paw_paw.html For one last Mryland stop check out Old Town: http://oldtownmaryland.tripod.com/ We hope you have enjoyed your "Virtual Hike of Maryland". Stay tuned for more chances to continue to "discover" as we "discover".
MARYLAND We really enjoyed the ADT terrain in Maryland. The Eastern Shore of Maryland was mostly rural road walks that led us through small farming towns and coastal villages along the inland waters of the Chesapeake Bay. We love the Bay, we both grew up swimming, waterskiing and fishing the waters of the Bay. The trail goes across the top of our nations capital, Washington D.C. We loved the diversity that the trail exposed us to. After our hike through the capital we picked up the C&O Canal. Our hike through the National Historic Park was a treat. The wildlife in the Floodplain Forest allowed for excellent sightings everyday. Following the Potomac River to the west past old canal towns made for some great historical "discoveries". The western Maryland terrain put us back in the mountains, and we do love the mountains! The geology dramatically changed and we were able to "discover" the history that goes back millions of years, the history responsible for the development of the oldest mountain range in the world! We hope you will check out the links throughout this article and "discover" some of the Maryland ADT experience. Enjoy your "Virtual Hike of Maryland". Start your hike by checking out the Geography of Maryland: http://www.netstate.com/states/geography/md_geography.htm We enter Maryland around the Ringgold's Green area and passed by Hobbs before entering Denton in Caroline County: http://www.dentonmaryland.com/history.php On the Eastern Shore of Maryland you can experience Martinak State Park: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/eastern/martinak.html If you want to stay a night or two try Camp Mardela: http://www.campmardela.org/ The old homes and interesting people make up the small town of "beautiful" Ridgely: http://www.ridgelymd.org/ We enjoyed our first ADT shelter, a nice lean-to in Tuckahoe State Park: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/eastern/tuckahoe.html One of our favorite small towns in Maryland was Queenstown: http://www.city-data.com/city/Queenstown-Maryland.html You can tell the Bay is getting closer from the sites, smells and sounds in Graysonville: http://www.city-data.com/city/Grasonville-Maryland.html For another look at the towns along the inland waters of the Bay have a look at Stevensville: http://www.city-data.com/city/Stevensville-Maryland.html The largest waterway we've seen since the Atlantic was the Chesapeake Bay: http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/mdmanual/01glance/html/ches.html Unfortunately they wouldn't let us walk across, but the bridge is still impressive. Check out the Chesapeake Bay Bridge: http://www.mdkidspage.org/BayBridge.htm You won't be able to camp here, but the park is beautiful. If you want to relax by the Bay try a trip to Sandy Point State Park: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/southern/sandypoint.html We could definitely see why the Navy picked Annapolis: http://www.ci.annapolis.md.us/ The Naval Academy found a great home at the mouth of the Severn River: http://www.aacounty.org/SevernRiver/using.cfm If you want to see an Impressive Institution then you must check out the U.S. Naval Academy: http://www.usna.edu///homepage.php To see Maryland in Minature try a visit to the Rowe Natural Resource Building and the Tawes Garden: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/tawesgarden.html We truely walked through the Police Station parking lot in Parole: http://www.city-data.com/city/Parole-Maryland.html The walking was easy on the WB&A Rail-Trail (South Shore Trail): http://bikewashington.org/trails/wba/wba.htm Great trail angels like the Parsons call this nice town home, check out Bowie: http://www.cityofbowie.org/ Some of Bowie'shistory can be found at The Belair Mansion and the Woodward Stables: http://www.dailypress.com/travel/dp-trav_bowiejun06,0,5402711.story?coll=dp-travel-utility The great farmland in Maryland tells it's story at the Beltsville Agricultural Center: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HAC/PHA/beltsville/bel_p1.html#backa For more land use information be sure to see the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Visitor Center: http://www.barc.usda.gov/ The animals tell their story at the U.S. Department of Interior National Wildlife Visitor Center: http://www.fws.gov/northeast/patuxent/vcdefault.html Keep you're eyes to the sky near the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/home/index.html The ADT twists and turns through many parks in Greenbelt: http://www.greenbeltmd.gov/ http://www.otal.umd.edu/~vg/ Enjoy the nice off road hiking on the perimeter trail Greenbelt Park: http://www.nps.gov/gree/ Spend the day following the water in the Anacostia stream valley: http://www.pgparks.com/places/parks/anacostia.html http://www.dnr.state.md.us/greenways/intro.html To learn some of the history of flight check out the College Park Airport (Oldest Continuously Operated Airport): http://www.pgparks.com/places/historic/cpam/ Make your way to Washington D.C. on the Northwest Branch Trail: http://www.mc-mncppc.org/trails/trails_MAPS/NorthwestBranch.shtm http://www.marylandrunning.com/runs/NorthwestBranchTrail/ Our nations capital offers multiple days worth of "discoveries" Washington D.C.: http://www.washington.org/ Mall Area: http://www.nps.gov/nacc/ Capital: http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/wash/dc76.htm http://www.earthcam.com/usa/dc/metrosquare/ White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov/ Washington Monument: http://www.nps.gov/wamo/home.htm Smithsonian Institute: http://www.si.edu/ Hike along the protected borders of D.C. on the Fort Circle Trail: http://www.americantrails.org/nationalrecreationtrails/trailNRT/FortCircle-DC.html See how our capital stayed protected at Fort Stevens: http://americancivilwar.com/statepic/dc/dc001.html See where one of our Presidents took on enemy fire at Fort Slocum: http://www.nps.gov/cwdw/slocum.htm The beautiful waterway will lead you to Georgetown in Rock Creek Park: http://www.nps.gov/rocr/ For a great hike through a National Historic Park try the C&O Canal: http://www.nps.gov/choh/ http://mcmullans.org/canal/ http://www.candocanal.org/ The towpath makes for great hiking check out the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail: http://www.americanhiking.org/potomactrailguide/washington.html For a visit to a happening place be sure to visit Georgetown: http://www.georgetowndc.com/ For a hike along calming waters check out the grand Potomac River: http://www.potomacriver.org/about_potomac/about_the_potomac.htm For an alternate D.C. route try the Capital Crescent Trail: http://www.cctrail.org/ The water is moving fast at the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center: http://www.nps.gov/choh/Visitor/Centers/GreatFalls.html The birds are everywhere near the McKee Beshers Wildlife Management Area: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/central/mb.html Need a ride across the Potomac, take the White's Ferry: http://www.mcmullans.org/canal/whites_ferry.htm For a historical dig check out the Point Rocks Marble Quarry: http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/stones/stones4.html If you want to head west out of D.C. on the metro, you can get as far west as Berlin, no it's called Barry, no now it's called Brunswick: http://www.brunswickmd.gov/ Spend a few miles on our old friend the Appalachian Trail: http://www.nps.gov/appa/ http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site/c.jkLXJ8MQKtH/b.694599/k.CCB5/Home.htm If you are looking for a great trail town, you can't beat Harpers Ferry, WV(Across River): http://www.nps.gov/hafe/home.htm See where the Potomac meets the Shenandoah River: http://www.wm.edu/geology/virginia/rivers/potomac-shenandoah.html Some of this countries early history can be "discovered" at Antietam National Battlefield: http://www.nps.gov/anti/home.htm For the Aura of an old canal town be sure to see Williamsport: http://www.williamsportmaryland.com/ http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=2838 With restaurants within sight of the trail we couldn't pass on Hancock: http://www.hancockmd.com/ The "cool" 3,118 foot tunnel through the mountain is the Paw Paw Tunnel: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/wonder/structure/paw_paw.html For one last Mryland stop check out Old Town: http://oldtownmaryland.tripod.com/ We hope you have enjoyed your "Virtual Hike of Maryland". Stay tuned for more chances to continue to "discover" as we "discover".
